National D-Day Memorial honors military service at its 25th anniversary
May 2026
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., will mark its 25th anniversary with a special ceremony June 6. (courtesy National D-Day Memorial)
by Jack Cooksey, Staff Writer
Since its dedication on June 6, 2001, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., has welcomed more than 2 million visitors to the monument enshrining the epic 1944 Allied invasion of German-occupied northern France. Operation Overlord was the largest amphibious assault ever waged, rallying 15 Allied nations to confront Germany’s choke hold on Europe. More than 130,000 soldiers landed during the first day. By day’s end, more than 4,400 died, and 10,000-plus were injured.
This year, “the National D-Day Memorial salutes 25 remarkable years of honoring the heroes who faced insurmountable odds to secure freedom for the world,” says April Cheek-Messier, the memorial’s president. “To reflect on two-and-a-half decades of achievements, the memorial is hosting a series of events in celebration of this milestone anniversary.”
In a prelude to the nation’s 250th anniversary this summer, the organization recognizes Armed Forces Day on May 16 with a military parade through downtown Bedford and joins other museums nationwide to launch the Blue Star Museums initiative, allowing free admission to active-duty military members and up to five family members.
The program runs through Labor Day and is available to those serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps. Veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine service receive free entrance to the D-Day Memorial on National Maritime Day, May 22.
On Memorial Day, May 25, a ceremony pays tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to the nation.
Bedford claimed its unique place in World War II history because 19 of the town’s young men died in the first wave of the D-Day assault at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. The town’s D-Day losses were the highest per capita of any U.S. locality, giving it poignant significance as the site of the national memorial.
On June 5 and 6, the immersive multimedia presentation “When We Went In” returns to the memorial and takes viewers deep into the experiences of those who lived through the invasion. It features authentic film footage, archival photographs, wartime illustrations and a riveting soundscape.
On June 6, from 11 a.m. to noon, a special ceremony marks the memorial’s 25th anniversary and the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix — the first enlisted man in the U.S. Army to receive the commendation — will deliver the keynote address.
“As we look toward the future,” Cheek-Messier says of the memorial, “our efforts will continue to inspire all generations with extraordinary stories of valor, fidelity and unimaginable sacrifice.”